City of Trees proposal: an
e-mail has been sent Tony Hothersall of City of Trees expressing an interest in
taking part in discussions about the proposal with a view to including horse
riding routes .

Greater Manchester Spatial
Framework: Public consultation events are taking place. Irene went to see the
one in Bury at The Elizabethan Suite on Monday 21st November 2016
and collected some information sheets about the areas in which equestrian
activity is likely to be impacted. We propose to write in and express a wish
that equestrian matters be considered, existing routes be protected and new
routs created within any dvelopments.
IP/LT

There was a meeting in Bamford
on the same day about proposals in Bamford.

DETAILS:

The meeting is to discuss the following:■ The Greater
Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF).■ A Neighbourhood Plan.■ The re-forming of the
Bamford Green Belt Action Group.

In layman’s terms: The GMSF is an ambitious plan to bring
economic growth and to establish new homes, businesses, jobs and green spaces
across the city region over the next 20 years.
Part of that plan will involve the building of 750 homes on Green Belt land in
Bamford/Norden
which is owned by Peel Holdings.

It was proposed that 2 people should be involved in
posting on Facebook and up-dating the website in case one person was
unavailable eg on holiday.

Facebook: Heidi volunteered to help Barbara.

Website: Irene will help Gill when Gill has time to
instruct her into the mysteries of the website.

·Rochdale
Rights of Way

Northdene Drive: Evidence
forms were distributed to members at the October meeting to be returned at the
2017 AGM in February.

Black Pitts Road: Work
on the chimney adjacent to Black Pitts Road has resulted in riders having
problems using Black Pitts Road to get from the Paperhouse river crossing to
the main road. It has been decided to collect evidence forms and seek a
creation order for a bridleway along this route.

Rainshore: This
week Gen Mann noticed that the developers building the houses at Rainshore had
opened up and access route onto the bridleway that passes the site. Action is
being taken to remedy this situation as it is feared that the surface of the
bridleway will be damaged and local residents will then seek to tarmac the
route.

Rochdale Rights of
Way Meeting: Helen Moore has kindly taken on the role of our representative
at this meeting which happens approximately every 3 months. At the meeting in
November 2016 Helen informed the Council of our action to seek an up-grade for
Northdene Drive using evidence forms (see above)

Helen also requested information about our claim for a
bridleway up-grade along Woodtop. No information was given on the latter as the
Officer dealing with the claim was not present at the meeting. It was decided
that prior to each meeting we should inform the Council of information we would
like to be given at the meeting so they can come prepared.

We were informed that Rochdale are going to appoint a
dedicated Rights of Way Officer at last and we were pleased to learn that Julie
Simpson’s name had been mentioned for this job.

Helen reported to Tia who works for United Utilities that
a gate on the concessionary route around Greenbooth Reservoir is difficult to
manage.

·Bury
Rights of Way

Following a recent serious encounter between a horse
rider and buggies on a bridleway in Bury it was decided to ask the Council to
put up Section 56 notices on the bridleways. As the Council have pleaded
poverty RBBA have offered to buy the signs if the Council put them up. These
signs act as a warning so that if the police find people illegally riding
motorbikes, quad bikes and buggies on bridleways they can confiscate the vehicles.
Hopefully these signs will make it safer for horse riders in the area.

Many bridleways in the area are not properly signposted
so car /van drivers do not realise the status of the route they are using. We
have asked Bury Council to way mark bridleway routes and this has started in
the Walmersley area.

“The Drains”, Bridleway 206 between Birtle and Buckhurst,
has been damaged by the recent rainfall and the membrane is showing through in
some places. We propose to see if it is possible for RBBA to get a contractor
to re-distribute the stones which have been washed out of place and try and
re-divert the offending flow of water so try to prolong the life of the
surface. Many thousands of pounds were spent by Lancashire County Council in
2008 to install the current surface.

·Social

28th November 2016: Xmas meal at the Pack
Horse

30th January 2017: Talk on riding and road
safety given by Greater Manchester Mounted Police

Officers in
conjunction with the BHS.

27th February 2017: AGM

·Committee
Meetings

It is proposed that committee meetings are held at the
Pack Horse, subject to Carol’s agreement.